Combined card game apparatus and playing cards

ABSTRACT

A device for holding and playing cards comprising a stand having a face element provided with a plurality of spaced parallel rows of pegs extending therefrom, in combination with a deck of playing cards provided with identical central apertures by which the cards are individually and removeably mounted on the pegs so that they are in alignment on the face element, with the cards being overlapped so that each card is sufficiently exposed from behind its overlapping card to show its suit and value.

Q Unlted States Patent 1 1 1111 3,761,094 Belisle [4 11 Sept. 25, 1973 [54] COMBINED CARD GAME APPARATUS AND 2,520,490 8/1950 Boward 273/150 1 PLAYING CARDS 2,887,789 5/1959 Bobo et a1 273/148 A UX 942,667 12/1909 Smith 273/150 Inventor: Brice s 3 9th New 1,132,306 3/1915 Dawson 40 104.'14

York, NY. 10003 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle [22] Flled' 1971 Attorney-Sydney B. Schlessel [2]] Appl. No.: 203,642

[57] ABSTRACT 521 US. Cl 273/148 A, 273/100, 273/150, A device for holding and p y cards comprising a 273/1521 stand having a face element provided with a plurality 511 1111. C1. A63f 1/10 of Spaced Parallel rows of P 2 extending therefrom, in 158 Field of Search 273/148 A, 150, 152.1; Combination with a deck of P y Cards provided with 40 24 1244 3; 232 29 3; 35 73; 21 N50 identical central apertures by which the cards are individually and removeably mounted on the pegs so that 5 References Cited they are in alignment on the face element, with the UNITED STATES PATENTS cards being overlapped so that each card is sufficiently exposed from behind its overlapping card to show its 1,004,935 10/1911 Taylor 273/150 suit and value 1 2,678,046 5/1954 Sega] 282/29 B X 280,375 7/1883 Horton 273/148 R 6 Claims, 11 Drawing; Figures PAIENTEB SEP25 I975 SHEHEBFZ COMBINED CARD GAME APPARATUS AND PLAYING CARDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of card playing and has for its objective the provision of card holding stands or supports provided with spaced pegs extending from their faces, incombination with a deck or pack of playing cards having each an identical central aperture, whereby a plurality of cards can be successively mounted on the pegs in graded alignment, with the suit and value of each mounted card exposed from below its overlapping card at all times, each of the cards being selectively removable from its supporting peg without disturbing the order of the remaining cards. The card holding stands may be provided with varying peg arrangements and alignments so as to support cards for playing such games as solitaire, bridge, whist, etc.. It has particular utility in instances where the player is unable to hold the grouping of cards in his hand, or is confined to a bed, where a card table is not available, where a windy area, such as at a beach, makes it impossible to place cards loosely on a flat surface, in traveling, and the like. 1

Other instances for its application will readily come to mind. i

r 2. Prior Art In the present state of the art card games are usually played with each player holding his assigned grouping of cards in one of his hands, with the cardsso separated that the values and suits of each are visible, using his other hand to extract selected cards for play. Both of his hands are thereby continuously engaged with the assigned cards and in the shifting of the cards some of them may become hidden behind'others, leading to errors in play. Continuous rearrangements are required to review the values of the heldcards. In other instances, such as those of an invalid in bed attempting to play'a game of solitaire on a flat board or similar surface, or travelers attempting to play a game of cards without the benefit of a table, or in a windy area, the possibilities of disarrangement of the cards during play, thereby ruining the game, are obvious. Other disadvantages in playing a game of cards with loosely disposed cards are equally obvious.

In some instances devices have been created to hold card groupings, such as in a box or compartment, but such devices are generally unsatisfactory since the cards are still loosely contained and freelymoveable by accident, and tend to slip behind one another or otherwise out of registry, since no means is provided to fix each cards position relative to the others, until used. The prior art has disclosed no device whereby each card is provided with an identical central aperture by which it may be mounted to a fixed position until required, with its suit and value always visible, nor any card structure having such aperture means. The prior art does disclose cards provided each with a plurality of transverse rounded apertures (see U.S. Pat. No. 603,186), but these arepurely for ventilating purposes to prevent cards from sticking together, and are neither suggestive of the present invention, nor capable for the uses intended in my invention. A further device found in the prior art comprises a series of question and answer cards (see U.'S. Pat. No. 2,138,524), with each card provided with a plurality of apertures of varying lar to the present invention nor capable of its function.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention, therefore, comprises a card holder or stand provided with a face element having a series of rows of equally spaced pegs extending therefrom, in combination with a plurality of playing cards having each an identical central aperture by which it is adapted to be mounted on the pegs in the manner that when so mounted they will form columns of cards in extended relationship, with a sufficient area of each card exposed below its overlapping card to show its suit and value. The apertures in the cards are of such shape and size thateach retaining peg will seat the top of the aperture and each aperture will bridge several pegs.

The principal object of my invention, therefore, lies in the provision of a card holder adapted to hold a plurality of playing cards in fixedrelationship with one another so as to over lap, with each card sufficiently exposed to show its suit and value, in combination with a plurality of playing cards having each a central aperture by which it can be mounted on the card holder, the cards being individually removable from the holder without displacement of the remaining cards.

A second important object of my invention lies in the provision of a card holder and playing cards, as above described, with the holder provided with a support element by which it can be supported in a substantially vertical position.

A third important object of my invention lies in the provision of a card holder and playing cards of the type described, wherein the face element of the holder is provided with arcuate bottom area so a's to allow the holder to be disposed around a raised surface. I

A fourthimportant object of my invention lies in the provision of a card holderand playing cards of the type described wherein the means for holding the cards thereon may be recessed within the face element when not in use.

Still another important object of the invention lies in the provision of .a holder as above described which is adapted to be supported on .an upright platform.

A further object of my invention lies in the provision of .a card holder and playing cards as above described adapted to provide visibility of all of the cards mounted on the holder at all times.

These and other salient objects, advantages and functional features of myinvention, together with the novel features of construction, composition and arrangement of parts will become more readily apparent froman examination of the following specification, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a preferred-embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged face view of one of the cards, shown mounted on pegs of the holder;

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, of a modified form of my invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view, partly broken away, showing one form of peg mounting;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken on lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing a different form of peg;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another modification of my invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front view of one of the cards mounted on the embodiment of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of a table pedestal employed with some forms of my invention.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the different views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Illustrative of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, which is intended for use in a game of solitaire, my invention comprises a holder 10 consisting of a face element l2 and a support member 14 hingedly secured to the back of the face element 12 to support the holder 10 in a substantially vertical position. The face element 12 is provided with a series of seven parallel rows of spaced pegs 16, each of which is equally spaced from its adjoining pegs 16 in the row. An eighth row of spaced pegs 18 is provided on one side of the face element 12, for purposes which will hereinafter be disclosed.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the pegs 16 is secured to the face element 12 at right angles thereto, as are the pegs l8, and are of sufficient length comfortably to support a playing card, the pegs l6 and 18 being cylindrical rods composed of metal, plastic or other suitable material. The face element 12 and support 14 may also be constructed of the same or similar material. The pegs l6 and 18 may be made integral with the face element 12 or may be individual units to be inserted into suitable spaced openings in the face element 12, as is well known in the art.

Mounted on the face element 12 in FIG. 1 there are shown a plurality of playing cards 20. Each of the cards 20 is provided with a central aperture 22 in diamond shape, and having rounded upper and lower edges, by which each card 20 may be mounted on a peg 16, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, so that each card 20 will hang vertically and in alignment with other cards 20 mounted on remaining pegs 16 of a row, the apertures 22 being of such shape and size as to permit a total of three pegs 16 to extend through the aperture 22, the peg 16 on which the card 20 is suspended and the next lower two pegs 16. The spacing of the pegs I6 is such that when a series of cards 20 are mounted on a row of pegs 16 a sufficient area of each card 20 will be exposed from below its overlapping card 20 to disclose its suit and value, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

In FIG. 5 there is disclosed a modified embodiment 10A of FIG. 1, wherein the lower edge of the face element 12 is arcuately shaped, as at 24, so that the holder 10 may bridge the legs, for example, of a person reclining in a bed, as a hospital patient or the like, for stability.

In FIGS. 6 and7 there are shown a modified embodiment of the pegs I6 and 18. In this modification each which the peg 26 may be pivoted out of its recess-28 for I use.

FIG. 8 discloses another modified form of peg 34, which is curved rather than straight, as are the pegs 16, 18 and 26.

Coming now to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown a further modified form of my invention, for use for each player in a game of bridge, whist or the like. In this embodiment 108 the face element 36 is provided with four pairs of horizontally aligned and spaced pegs 38, and is provided with a central support 40 mounted on a standard 42 seated in a base or platform 44. Each of the players is provided with a holder 10B. The platform 44 may support the face element 36, or it may be held by engagement of the players hand 46 around the standard 42. The pegs 38 are so spaced as to support on each set of four pegs 38, as shown in FIG. 10, a single playing card 48 provided with a central aperture 50 of substantially rectangular configuration and having rounded corners 52 for the seating of the pegs 38, so that a sufficient side area of each card 48 is exposed from behind an overlapping card 48, to show its suit and value, as shown in FIG. 9. I

In FIG. 11 there is shown a table pedestal 54 for use with my invention in such games, as rummy and the like, where cards are discarded from the hands to a central pile. The table pedestal 54 comprises a base 56 and an upright peg 58 mounted therein, on which the discarded cards may be impaled through their apertures. The embodiment of FIG. 11 may also be used in pairs, such as when the deck to be drawn from and the discard pile lie side by side, as well as for amusement when cards are sailed through the air to be caught on the peg 58.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION In the operation of my invention, as for example, employment of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a game of solitaire, the card holder 10 is set up by extending the support member 14, as shown. The deck of cards is shuffled and the cards 20 are secured on the uppermost pegs 16 of the seven spaced rows, faces hidden, in the manner well known in the art, the first peg of the first row holding seven cards, the first peg 16 of the next row six cards 20, etc. The topmost card 20 of each row is then reversed to expose its face. Here it is to be noted that each card 20 will bridge three pegs 16 in its row, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Cards 20 are then placed, as they are turned up, either from the mounted cards 20 or those remaining in the deck, in consecutive order with alternating suits, as is well known in the game, on the selected rows of pegs 16, to the conclusion of the game. Where an ace card is turned up it will be mounted on one of the pegs 18, to be followed by its respective deuce, trey, etc., as they are turned up. Removal of any group of cards 20 from one row of pegs 16 to an appropriate row is accomplished by lifting off the group from the original pegs 16 and replacing them on the pegs 16 of the appropriate row of pegs 16.

In the use of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, as each player receives his hand of cards 48 he will mount them on the pegs 38 in consecutive value order on the four suit groups of pegs 38, so that all of the cards 48 are visible to him at all times. Removal of cards 48 is accomplished in the same manner as disclosed in discussion of the earlier embodiment. Use of the embodiment of FIG. 11 is obvious.

From the foregoing it is clear that the embodiments shown and described are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and that various changes may be made in the construction, composition and arrangement of parts without limitation upon or departure from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein, all of which are herein claimed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a deck of playing cards and a card game apparatus, the card game apparatus comprising a face element, means to support the face element in a substantially vertical position, and a plurality of parallel vertical rows of spaced pegs extending from the exposed surface of the face element an an angle thereto, each of the cards provided with an identical central aperture adapted to encompass a series of successive vertically aligned pegs, with the lowermost of a plurality of successively overlapped cards being supported by the engagement of the top of its aperture with the uppermost of the series of pegs and with each successive overlapping card being supported by engagement of the top of its aperture with the next suceeding peg, with'the pegs thereby adapted to removably support a plurality of cards in successive overlapping alignment, whereby a portion of each card sufficient to expose its suit and value is visible from beneath overlapping cards.

2. A card game apparatus as described in claim 1, the bottom edge of the face element being formed centrally arcuate.

3. A card game apparatus as described in claim 1, each of the pegs being formed integral with the exposed surface of the face element.

4. A card game apparatus as described in claim 1, each of the pegs being pivotally secured within a recess in theexposed surface of the face element, disposed to lie flush with said surface, andadapted to be pivotally extended from said surface to lie at an angle thereto.

5. A card game apparatus as described in'claim 1, each of the pegs being removably secured to an opening in the exposed surface of the face element.

6. A card game apparatus as described in claim 1, the means to support the face element in an upright position comprising a support member hingedly secured to the rear surface of the face element. 

1. The combination of a deck of playing cards and a card game apparatus, the card game apparatus comprising a face element, means to support the face element in a substantially vertical position, and a plurality of parallel vertical rows of spaced pegs extending from the exposed surface of the face element an an angle thereto, each of the cards provided with an identical central aperture adapted to encompass a series of successive vertically aligned pegs, with the lowermost of a plurality of successively overlapped cards being supported by the engagement of the top of its aperture with the uppermost of the series of pegs and with each successive overlapping card being supported by engagement of the top of its aperture with the next suceeding peg, with the pegs thereby adapted to removably support a plurality of cards in successive overlapping alignmeNt, whereby a portion of each card sufficient to expose its suit and value is visible from beneath overlapping cards.
 2. A card game apparatus as described in claim 1, the bottom edge of the face element being formed centrally arcuate.
 3. A card game apparatus as described in claim 1, each of the pegs being formed integral with the exposed surface of the face element.
 4. A card game apparatus as described in claim 1, each of the pegs being pivotally secured within a recess in the exposed surface of the face element, disposed to lie flush with said surface, and adapted to be pivotally extended from said surface to lie at an angle thereto.
 5. A card game apparatus as described in claim 1, each of the pegs being removably secured to an opening in the exposed surface of the face element.
 6. A card game apparatus as described in claim 1, the means to support the face element in an upright position comprising a support member hingedly secured to the rear surface of the face element. 